maskormenacelogs | ( closed )

Holy water is a particularly-- troublesome thing. Harmful enough to witches but-- I'm not just a witch.

( as she knew that zelda knew, whether or not it was often thought of )

I don't expect magic to completely heal but perhaps-- cleanse it?

I'm aware.

[ She says it softly, flicking her gaze up to Lilith's and stilling for a brief moment. Then she lets out a slow sigh. ]

It's a shame Hilda isn't here. She has a potion for everything. [ Another sigh, before she shifts and sits down next to Lilith. ] I can do my best. At least midwifery has taught me a thing or two about healing.

Mid...wifery?

( there's a slow nod. and maybe she's realising that she knows absolutely nothing about the witch in front of her. she'd assumed her skill after sabrina, edward, the exorcism but-- there was far more to her it would seem )

If your spells don't prove enough there may be one more thing.

[ Zelda tilts her head, a little amused at Lilith's reaction. ]

Certainly, you don't think I pander to the burial rituals and rites of mortals because it calls to me. [ She's looking at Lilith's wound as she speaks, trying to sort out the best course of action. ] My concentration at the Academy was fertility. I've been the midwife for the coven a very long time now.

I hadn't considered it.

( honestly zelda had never really entered into her consideration before this place, her focus had been entirely on sabrina )

I don't keep track of your coven.

Yes. I'm sure Sabrina's antics necessitate the entirety of your focus.

[ Although it could be misconstrued as sarcastic, the tone of her voice betrays none of that. Actually, there is an oddly humorous tilt to her tone. Sabrina is a handful.

Zelda moves her hands up Lilith's arm, her palms resting gently against the burns, and whispers the spell quietly. ]

What salt and water the angel tied, let hellfire's flame now divide.

[ It won't heal the wound, but at least it's enough to make the holy water inert. ]

( despite her high pain threshold (her experiences in life to thank for that) the fact that her wound is holy means that zelda's touch pains her, not enough that she moves from the woman's touch but a small measure of her discomfort does seep through into her expression.

it doesn't last long though, zelda's spell causing a soothing at her arm and once her hand moves away she can tell what exactly it was. perhaps she'd have to heal the mortal way but at least the holy water couldn't cause any further pain or damage )

Effective.

( it's meant as a thank you, lilith not great with the actual sentiment )

Perhaps your coven wasted your talents.

[ Zelda feels like she should have some sharp response defending her coven, but when she tries to conjure the words, nothing comes to mind. Have her talents been wasted? She finagled her way into her role as a teacher and backdoored herself into a liaison with Blackwood (and, of course, used her position as midwife to spirit away Leticia) so she feels like, all things considered, things aren't going exactly badly at the moment.

But everything she had, she fought for. Nothing had been given to her. She had taken it, sometimes subtly, and sometimes brutally. And there was still a way to go. ]

I wouldn't say I'm underappreciated. [ That seems like a diplomatic middle ground. Zelda is tempted to stand and take her leave--she and Lilith really have nothing but Sabrina in common, after all, and Zelda can't imagine what in Hell they would have to talk about--but she can't help her curiosity.

So she remains in place. ]

I take you haven't had a coven of your own?

Hell isn't a place for witches.

( only damned souls and with their worship lucifer spared them from hell )

But a coven wouldn't have brought me anything.

( maybe once upon a time or if her life had taken a different path )

Not to my goals.

( she brings her arm back to her, a light sweep of her hand over it )

So, that is true? Witches are exempt from the fires of the mortal Hell?

[ She has to ask. After all, Lucifer lied about the apocalypse. Zelda can't be sure what else he's lied about. ]

There-- have been witches in Hell, those that have grievously betrayed the Dark Lord.

( she'd be dead. would she be in hell or simply dead? part of her was witch, part of her was demon. and her soul-- she'd rather not think on it )

Though those are special cases. Crimes that simply death wasn't enough to punish. Hence why witches have always been motivated to serve him well.

( to avoid his wrath, death and worse fates )

And if the Dark Lord were to escape the Acheron, our betrayal will not soon be forgotten. Or forgiven.

[ More a reason to make sure that doesn't happen. Of course, he'd start with Lilith, but the Spellmans would not be far behind. ]

Was it your plan the whole time? Use Sabrina's unholy lineage to force Lucifer's abdication and crown yourself as queen?

( she will visibly look displeased at that reminder even though she was thinking it herself.

but it seems as if sabrina has been serving up the truth )

No. That was something he'd kept from me.

( she knew the prophecy of the half-shadow girl but just assumed it meant the witch and mortal halves of her )

I may have been his faithful handmaiden but even I didn't know all of his business.

It seems all of us are faithful within reason. And he had a wealth of business to hide.

[ Everything that happened over the last couple of months, since Sabrina's birthday, was slowly starting to make sense to Zelda. The more she learned, the more irritated it made her, but the more sense it made the actions she's been told she will make. ]

What was the deciding factor in your betrayal?

( there's a pause, expression falling a little because-- the deciding factor? she'd been honest to sabrina about what had happened even if she hadn't connected every dot in her story.

but-- as much as she's been more honest with this woman she doesn't want to talk about something so personal with her, not when it still hurt )

Lucifer had gone too far.

( there were only so many times he could crush her before she fought back. hurting her, belittling her-- that was one thing but adam had been something else )

[ Really, Lilith doesn't need to say more than that. The specifics are unnecessary.

This is a time before Zelda is approached by the Dark Lord, before she is expected to bend to his deranged will. But that doesn't mean she is unaware of these things. She is not blind to the terror Lucifer pressed upon them under the guise of leadership, with their powers as the consolation prize. She is not blind to the twisted culture his grip has shaped.

She's just been far better at ignoring it. Until lately. ]

As men are prone to do. [ She leans back against the couch, wishing she'd brought her cigarettes. ] They pin us down, push and pull us and crush us beneath them. Eventually, we have a choice. We break... [ Her gaze meets Lilith, and there's something akin to a smile behind her eyes. ] Or we push back.

( it's not comfort but it masks itself very easily as if it were, an understanding that perhaps she'd expected zelda to possess but not to share, to reason with her. and it makes her hold her gaze, seconds slowly passing before lilith nods her agreement )

We push back. And we take what they have denied us.

( it was a similar thing to what she'd told sabrina when taking her gifts from the dark lord -- don't just accept it but take it, own it. they were hers and no one else's )

And show them what a woman is truly capable of.

( which was always something that they never expected )

[ Zelda holds her gaze. It's probably only a lingering second, but it feels like a lifetime, the room quiet around them, except for what Zelda thinks is the beating of her heart in her ears.

She finally drags her eyes away, clearing her throat before standing up. ]

You should rest. The pain may lessen but the wound will take a few days to heal.

( whilst lilith could eyeroll and argue that she's a demon, that it would take more than a little injury to take her down she also accepts that the woman likely wants an out. and really, lilith can't deny that -- she wasn't expecting her to stay and converse )

Very well.

( said as if the patient really is taking the guidance of her doctor )

And-- I do appreciate your assistance.

( it won't quickly be forgotten. zelda didn't like her, didn't have to answer and yet she did )

[ Zelda still doesn't particularly like her, but she's resigned herself to Lilith being a part of her life here. It's best to keep the peace, if just for Sabrina's sake.

Besides, Lilith is the only other witch from their world. Burning that bridge isn't a strategic choice, at least for the time being. ]

If you need further, you know where to find me.

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